Published Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Mr Ford was speaking at the launch of the Blue Blindfold cross-border campaign against human trafficking on Tuesday.
The Department of Justice has joined forces with the Department of Justice and Law Reform in Dublin to raise public awareness of human trafficking across the island of Ireland.
Fifteen victims of human trafficking were rescued in Northern Ireland and four people were charged between April and December last year, in cases involving vulnerable foreign nationals used as slaves.
Minister Ford said:"It is difficult to accept that this form of modern day slavery is happening in Northern Ireland.
"I hope this campaign helps to open eyes to this heinous crime and that people realise it could be happening in a location near them."
The Minister appealed to anyone with suspicions of human trafficking in Northern Ireland to report their concerns to the police.
"I welcome the opportunity for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to launch campaigns on this important issue at the same time.
"Human trafficking knows no borders and it is important that we work together to highlight and detect this crime."
The head of the PSNI's Organised Crime branch described human trafficking as "a worrying trend."
"We very much see this as a crime that is developing in Northern Ireland," said Detective Chief Supt. Roy McComb.
"This is about the exploitation of human beings. We need to be strong that we don't want this in Northern Ireland."
He added that the public needed to be on the lookout for rented accommodation with people coming and going at all hours of the night.
"They are being treated as no more than labour commodities," he warned.
He said the trade was increasingly of concern to police.
"We have a greater understanding of the nature of the crime. We are keen to get as much information as possible."
He added: "There is a tendency to push this underground."
The Blue Blindfold campaign will run in Northern Ireland for the next three months.